Topic: Hole in my fish.

[MajaLena]

So shortly after my tank light went out (2-3 days ago - the one I bought didn't work and it was the last one in stock, gotta wait 2 weeks for a new one >_<), I was feeding the gang and noticed (though it was hard to see) that one fish had what looked like a red hole in his side. Found a working flashlight today and looked for him. I put him in the small tank I had set up for my Betta (was gonna do a big tank clean, he's separated by a divider) and took him into some better light. I can literally see through him. The hole goes all the way through (though I think the one side is still intact, just barely though).

I don't know what he has, disease-wise. He's got the one big gaping hole, and his gills looked a little red when I was able to get a better look at him. I noticed my betta's fins weren't to spiffy either, so I've started treating the tank with Erythromycin (http://aquaterras.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1006 - this stuff). Tomorrow I put another packet of the stuff in, and then wait another day to do a 25% water change (was going to anyways.. lol). The danio looks a little slow and lethargic, but otherwise seems fine. The betta is normal, aside from the potential fin rot. Everyone else seems fine, in fact, 3 of the danios are pregnant (tank is not suited for babies) and the guppies are fine as well.

I have no pictures of him right now. I'll try to get some shortly. Just not so easy with something that doesn't stop moving, nor is it easy to find him in a dark tank. >_>

Anyone have any idea what it could be/what I could do? Should I euthanize him? If so, how?

[wendyjo]

So you put the sick fins in the tank with your betta? 

Without pics it's really hard to know what's going on.  Could be bacterial or could be a parasite. 

You haven't given us any info about your tank - size, water parameters, any changes you've recently made, any new additions to the tank. 

Really, we need more info, but if the fish doesn't seem to be too distressed then I wouldn't euthanize yet.  But I would get him away from the betta if they are currently in the same tank. 

[MajaLena]

Tank is a 10gal. They've been in the same tank for about 5 months now, with a divider. Last proper water change.. was a while ago. I've been doing some water changes, but haven't been able to fully vacuum out the gravel in a while. I'm thinking that may be part of the problem. My work schedule hasn't really allowed me to do much with the tank this summer. The pH is within range (somewhere between 7.0-7.5). Temperature is just over 80 degrees. As for new additions, the most recent was.. mid July, when I got 3 guppies from a friend who was moving (and her tank was overrun with them). Nothing wrong with them. In fact, the little guy with the hole is still chasing them (which I found out after I got them, seems to be common among zebra danios, they like to chase each other). There are 4 other zebras in the tank (5 total) and the 3 guppies. Then on the other side of the divider, the betta. Oh, and 2 ottos. The tank is a little crowded, but the betta does get moved to a small (non heated/filtered) tank when I clean the 10gal. I'm gonna have to clean it out again before I put the betta in there, since I had the holy danio in there (and I'd rather not take any chances).

I can't test nitrates/nitrites/etc, as I have no kit for it. There are 2 stores in town, the one is owned by a crazy couple who keep male bettas in with tetras, and they don't bring in the kits, and the other store ... I have yet to go there with the kits in stock (as well as my dogs food, which they do carry).


The picture is from my phone. It's not great quality, but you can see the hole.

[LittlePuff]

Walmart carries test kits. You're right about the water changes. Increase them to every 3 days for a while. You don't need to move any fish while you gravel vac the tank/ do water changes. 

[MajaLena]

I am going to move my betta to the small tank for a while, after treatment is done (first water change is today). But that's mainly so I can take the divider out to scrub the area/the divider. The two ottos tend to ignore it, so a small amount of algae has grown on it.

I thought of another thing today though. Because it's summer, we're under a boil water advisory for drinking water. (Actually, I think we're supposed to boil water all year - we buy bottled water, so I'm not 100% sure.) Would that have any effect on my tank, if I don't boil it for them? I use Seachem Prime to get rid of impurities, but still.. it's a thought I had today.

Oh, just adding, after the 2 days of treatment, he seems to be a lot perkier. Can't tell if the hole is looking better because of the lack of proper light (we have a plant grow lamp hanging above it for now, it's not too hot). Was eating with the rest of the gang (if a little slower than them), but was eating. That's a bonus.

I'll keep walmart in mind though, for the NitrAte/NitrIte kits. The closest is about an hour away, so we don't go very often.

[LittlePuff]

Get an ammonia test too. The sooner the better. We will be able to help you more.

[djm328bmw]

not that this will help much but every zebra danio I've ever gotten ends up with this, I must say they are a pretty tough fish and most of the time heal up, in my tank I usually notice a bit of scale damage, then a boil, then it opens.  For me, I've always thought this is caused from they rubbing against too much stuff in the tank as they go along their wild chases of each other.  I'll be honest they aren't my favorite fish so I've never tried to treat them for this, I've usually got them for cycling or filler fish in my tanks as the petstore by me often has them in their .99 cent tank, the last of mine got eaten up the last time i was moving fish in and out of different tanks

[LittlePuff]

Never had that happen with a zebra danio. Are you trying to cycle your aquarium with them?